Cork City Council asked to ‘right wrong’ of freeman vote for Mandela

The local authority which voted against making Nelson Mandela a freeman of Cork in 1987 was asked, just hours before his death, to “right that wrong”.

Sat, 07 Dec, 2013 - 00:00

Eoin English

It emerged last night that Sinn Féin Cllr Thomas Gould submitted a motion on Wednesday requesting that Cork City Council consider making Mandela a freeman of the city next year to make up for its 1987 vote against conferring him with the honour.

Mandela’s death was announced just before 10pm Irish time, on Thursday night.

Mr Gould said while saddened by Mandela’s death, he felt his motion should still be considered.

“Unfortunately, events overtook the motion but I think we should still go ahead with my proposal and confer the honour posthumously,” he said.

“Maybe the ambassador for South Africa could accept the honour on Mandela’s behalf.”

The motion is set to be discussed at a meeting of party whips next week.

Mr Gould said he learned last month of the 1987 vote while he was attending the launch of a book on the history of the Freedom of Cork, written by UCC local government lecturer Aodh Quinlivan.

The book records the minutes of a meeting of the then Cork Corporation in Jan 1987 at which a motion, proposed by then Workers’ Party Cllr John Kelleher, now a serving Labour councillor; and former councillor, and now Minister for Disability, Equality and Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch, (also Workers’ Party at the time) was discussed.

Mr Quinlivan’s book shows that councillors voted eight votes to five against making Mandela a freeman of Cork.

In January 1987 Cork Corporation voted by 8-5 not to award Nelson Mandela the freedom of Cork. #FreedomofCorkBook @UCC @CollinsPress
— AODH QUINLIVAN ⚽️🏆 (@AodhQuinlivan) December 5, 2013

Two great statesmen. One awarded freedom of Cork (Hume), one refused (Mandela). #FreedomofCorkBook @UCC pic.twitter.com/wrGmZcUxv3
— AODH QUINLIVAN ⚽️🏆 (@AodhQuinlivan) December 6, 2013

Mr Gould said Cork City Council should now make amends.

Mandela was still in prison in South Africa in 1988 when he was made a freeman of Dublin. He subsequently received his award in 1990.

He was conferred with an honorary degree by Trinity College Dublin in 2000, and with an honorary degree by NUI Galway in 2003.

NUI Galway president Dr Jim Browne said they still cherish vivid memories of the day of his visit.

“That day counts amongst the most memorable occasions in the history of our university,” he said.

“With a strong academic tradition in human rights law and public policy, we in NUI Galway are especially proud to count Nelson Mandela amongst the ranks of our alumni and for our university to be forever associated with his name.”

Meanwhile, the lord mayor of Cork, Cllr Catherine Clancy, has opened a book of condolences at City Hall.

“He was a truly extraordinary person who brought hope and inspiration to not only his own people, but to people across the world,” she said.